Advocacy
Personal Advocacy
ADA Rights
Understanding
our rights is up to us. It is the responsibility of the individual with the
disability to share information about accommodations that will help to
overcome the obstacles of the disability with their supervisor, human
resources person, professors, and/or other professionals with whom we
interact.
For those in
USA, be aware of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) rights. Also, know
how to utilize Dept. of Rehab, EEOC, and other government resources.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guarantees equal access and
equal opportunities to individuals with disabilities that significantly
interfere with one or more major life activities (communicating, reading,
physical movement, etc.).
• Public and private institutions are required to provide "reasonable
accommodations" to individuals with a documented disability, as long as
these accommodations do not create an undue hardship for the company or
university. Employers and universities are prohibited from discriminating
against a person with a disability if they are "otherwise qualified."
• Keep a journal of communications and interactions plus keep copies of all
letters, e-mails, policies, and procedures for use if you have difficulty
getting your accommodations and you need to file a complaint.
The following ADA Business Briefs are short publications explaining specific ADA issues that are designed to be easily printed and distributed.
Communicating with
People Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings FAX # 3504
Scroll down on this page to find the version that you need, or for the HTML
version, click this link:
http://www.ada.gov/hospcombr.htm
Communicating with
Guests Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hotels, Motels, and Other Places
of Transient Lodging FAX # Scroll down on this page to find the version
that you need, or for the HTML version, click this
http://www.ada.gov/hotelcombr.htm
Guidelines for Law Enforcement Officers
http://www.ada.gov/lawenfcomm.htm
Links for more information:
ADA Technical Assistance Centers
www.adata.org
ADA Information Line
http://www.ada.gov/infoline.htm